Cardiac Rehabilitation

Contrary to naysayers’ beliefs that heart patients should avoid exercise, it is actually essential and safe for most people to return to physical activity. What’s more important is building an activity plan with their physician and healthcare team to ensure that they are doing it properly, with the right intensity and frequency. One such program to help patients achieve normalcy is cardiac rehabilitation or cardiac rehab for short.

At its core, the overarching aim of cardiac rehabilitation is to elevate heart health and overall well-being, safeguarding against the recurrence of cardiac events. While the program elements are simple, and some are common knowledge, they must be guided and monitored.

What does it involve?

Cardiac rehab comprises of three important parts:

• Exercise counselling and training: For patients who recently underwent heart surgery, engaging in exercises for the heart can also enhance the recovery of their heart function.
• Education for a heart-healthy life: A key element of cardiac rehab, it is important to be educated on ways to reduce your risk of a cardiac recurrence and how to take better control of your heart health
• Counselling to reduce stress in everyday life: Stress negatively impacts the heart and so you will undergo counselling to identify and tackle sources of everyday stress for you.

What are its benefits?

Some benefits of undergoing cardiac rehab include:

• Lowering your risk of a future cardiac episode
• Developing a better diet and losing weight
• Reduction in stress
• Increased energy for daily activities

Do I Need To Go for Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Dr. William Kristanto, cardiologist, offers some valuable insights on cardiac rehabilitation in patients, its benefits and challenges it faces.
Read the story

The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body. Located in the chest on the left, the heart pumps blood throughout the body via the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients.

A healthy heart is essential to good health. In fact, a healthy human heart beats about 100,000 times a day, with an average adult’s heart beating about 60 to 80 times per minute.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is a term that houses all conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.

Empowering Yourself with Knowledge

This resource provides information about heart health, including:

• Importance of Heart Health: Understand the importance of maintaining your heart health.
• Common Heart Disease: Learn about the different types of common heart diseases and their characteristics.
• Key Risk Factors: Explore various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that may leave you susceptible to heart disease.
• Ways to Improve Heart Health: Learn about lifestyle factors and preventive measures to minimize your risk of heart disease.

What is Heart Health?

Heart health is the overall well-being of your cardiovascular system, which consists of your heart and blood vessels. It encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and management of conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system, collectively known as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A healthy heart functions to efficiently pump blood throughout your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your organs and tissues. It is important to maintain good heart health for your overall well-being and longevity.

Importance of Heart Health

• CVDs are a leading cause of death globally, making heart health crucial for overall health.
• Poor heart health can lead to various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

What Causes Heart Disease?

Heart disease is caused by a complex interplay of factors, including:

• Non-Modifiable Factors: Age, gender, ethnicity, family history, and inherited genetic mutations.
• Modifiable Factors:
  • Lifestyle: Diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
  • Health: Pre-existing conditions (i.e., diabetes), obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol

Symptoms of Heart

Disease Heart disease symptoms vary depending on the type of heart disease. However, some general signs and symptoms include:

• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or light-headedness

Important Note: These symptoms may also be indicative of other health conditions. Speak to our Specialists today for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.

Common Heart Diseases in Singapore

• Coronary Artery Disease is the most common heart disease and happens due to blockages in your coronary arteries.
• Heart Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats, which can be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregular.
• Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can lead to serious complications like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
• Congenital Heart Disease are heart defects present at birth due to abnormal heart development during pregnancy.
• Heart Failure occurs when the heart muscle is weakened or damaged and can't pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs.

Improving Heart Health

Here are some helpful ways to improve your heart health:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables while limiting your intake of fats and sodium.
• Engage in regular physical activities with at least 150 minutes of moderate activities or 75 minutes of vigorous activities.
• Achieving a healthy weight and maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI).
• Quit Smoking and avoid tobacco use
• Learn ways to manage your stress as chronic stress may contribute to heart disease.